Conversions will ensure schools meet performance-based measures
Detroit Public Schools is converting three contract schools to DPS-authorized charter schools this fall, ensuring the schools will be required to meet performance-based measures, the district announced today.
“The granting of these charters eliminates the Contract-Managed School Model from DPS’ portfolio and rids us of the legacy issues associated with the contract schools while, at the same time, ensuring these schools will be held to the same rigorous performance standards for student achievement and fiscal responsibility of all DPS schools,” said Emergency Manager Roy S. Roberts.
Following a Strategic Sourcing process and planning by a cross-departmental team of stakeholders, the following schools will operate as DPS-authorized charter schools for 2012-13:
- Capstone Academy: Capstone Academy, formerly the Detroit Behavioral Institute contract school, has been selected to receive a Strict Discipline Charter. The school, which will serve adjudicated youth, will partner with EdTech, a Charter Management Organization with expertise in Strict Discipline Academies, to help ensure the educational needs of students are being met while adhering to court-ordered mandates.
- Woodward Collegiate Preparatory Academy: The operator of Riverside Preparatory Academy will continue with its current model for one year, while completing all requirements to transform to a new college preparatory high school, Woodward Collegiate Preparatory Academy, for the 2013-14 school year. The school will be operated by Leona Group.
- Andrew Young Early College Academy: Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO) will serve as the charter management organization only for a Collegiate Preparatory School (grades 6-12) based on the Jobs for the Future early education model. The school will offer grades 6-8 for the 2012-13 school year and new grades will be added each year. DABO previously operated Detroit Cares Academy, an alternative high school, as a DPS contract school.
About DPS-Authorized Charter Schools:
Detroit Public Schools currently authorizes 14 public school academies, with five new schools slated to be authorized for fall 2012. The schools are part of DPS’ mission to create a portfolio of outstanding schools that strive to meet the needs of all children in the City of Detroit.
As a charter authorizer since 1998, Detroit Public Schools is responsible for oversight of charter schools to ensure they meet their academic goals, are financially sound and comply with state and federal requirements. In addition to the three contract school conversions being added to this portfolio, two additional DPS schools are being converted to charters. They are: International Preparatory Academy – MacDowell Campus and Rutherford Winans Academy.
The Detroit Public Schools Office of Charter Schools is one of the largest authorizers of charter schools in the city of Detroit, serving more than 4,000 students in a variety of settings from kindergarten through high school.
Charter schools are public schools that are required to hire certified teachers, accept all students regardless of ability, administer the MEAP and MME and otherwise abide by the same laws required of traditional schools in Michigan.
